US3871674A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ski safety device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-06-03
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Granted: 1975-03-18
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Expires: 1994-06-03
Abstract
Abstract A ski safety device is provided for minimizing transmission of injurious force to a skier''s legs by facilitating controlled excursion of a skier''s foot from normal alignment with the ski upon the occurrence of predetermined rotational and lifting forces. The device is an assemblage adapted for mounting at the foot engaging portion of a ski and comprising an elongated tread portion having means at the forward and rear ends thereof for firmly clamping a ski boot thereto, a mounting plate for securing to the ski having upwardly projecting means interfitting with coacting means centrally of said tread portion in a manner to permit rotaty and lifting movement of the tread portion with respect to said mounting plate, and said tread portion and mounting plate being joined together by tensioned strands extending from points on said mounting plate radially and circumferentially spaced with respect to said upwardly projecting means, through guide means at the sides of said tread portion above said mounting plate, to tensioning means longitudinally spaced from said mounting plate, thereby restraining said tread portion against both lifting and rotary motion with respect to said mounting plate. The upwardly projecting and coating means on said plate and tread portion are of tapered, suitably frustoconical, contour permitting disengagement by transverse tilting along one edge of said tread portion against the restraining force of said tensioned strands; and an optional or supplemental resistance to rotary displacement may be provided by vertically oriented spring tensioned means and coacting depressed means on said mounting plate and tread portion. The tread portion is preferably inclined to be substantially elevated above a ski at the rear end thereof. This provides both desirable forward lean for the skier, and means within said rear portion for housing at least one spring tensioned spool providing adjustable tension in said strands.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Thomas C Bunn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 05:11
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63C; A63C9/00; A63C9/003; A63C9/08; A63C9/086; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32541
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A ski safety device for minimizing transmission of injurious forces to a skier''s legs by providing controlled excursion of a skier''s foot from normal alignment with a ski upon the occurrence of predetermined rotational and lifting forces, said device being an assemblage adapted for mounting at the foot engaging portion of a ski and comprising an elongated tread portion having means at the forward and rear ends thereof for firmly clamping a ski boot thereto, a mounting plate for securing to the ski having upwardly projecting means interfitting with coacting means centrally of said tread portion in a manner to permit rotary movement and lifting movement of the tread portion with respect to said mounting plate, and said tread portion and mounting plate being joined together by tensioned strands extending from anchor points on said mounting plate radially and circumferentially spaced with respect to said upwardly projecting means through guide means at the sides of said tread portion above said mounting plate to tensioning means longitudinally spaced from said mounting plate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
171 words
A ski safety device for minimizing transmission of injurious forces to a skier''s legs by providing controlled excursion of a skier''s foot from normal alignment with a ski upon the occurrence of predetermined rotational and lifting forces, said device being an assemblage adapted for mounting at the foot engaging portion of a ski and comprising an elongated tread portion having means at the forward and rear ends thereof for firmly clamping a ski boot thereto, a mounting plate for securing to the ski having upwardly projecting means interfitting with coacting means centrally of said tread portion in a manner to permit rotary movement and lifting movement of the tread portion with respect to said mounting plate, and said tread portion and mounting plate being joined together by tensioned strands extending from anchor points on said mounting plate radially and circumferentially spaced with respect to said upwardly projecting means through guide means at the sides of said tread portion above said mounting plate to tensioning means longitudinally spaced from said mounting plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide means are carried by a circular downwardly oriented hub within and centrally of said tread portion, said hub having in the lower surface thereof an axial recess which comprises the means coacting with the upwardly projecting means on said mounting plate, and said tensioned strands following the outer contour of said hub at each side of said assemblage to anchor points on said mounting plate equally spaced forwardly and rearwardly with respect to a diameter of said hub passing through said guide means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 2, wherein said spaced anchor points on the mounting plate are approximately 45* forwardly and rearwardly of said diameter passing through said hub.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 2, wherein said spaced anchor points on the mounting plate are approximately 45* forwardly and rearwardly of said diameter passing through said hub, and the spacing of said guide means above saId plate providing an angle of about 38* between said plate and portions of said strands between said guide means and said anchor points.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 2, wherein the upwardly projecting means on said mounting plate and the coacting wall of said recess are of sufficiently tapered contour to permit disengagement thereof by transverse rocking movement of said tread portion with respect to the ski on which said assemblage is mounted as well as by lifting of the forward and rear ends of said tread portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 5, wherein the tapers of said projection and recess are of essentially frustoconical contour.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 2, wherein anchorage of said strands to said mounting plate is facilitated by providing a composite assemblage of upper and lower plates, the upper plate having apertures at said forwardly and rearwardly spaced anchor points through which said strands may pass, and the lower plate having cutouts in alignment therewith to receive anchoring portions of said strands.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 7, wherein said two plate assemblage provides for anchoring a looped strand at each side of said plate by including in the upper plate cutouts at each end thereof extending to said strand positioning apertures, and a generally H-shaped aperture centrally of said upper plate with the legs extending transversely and the crossmember extending longitudinally thereof for providing inwardly extending lugs for engaging said looped strand, and the cutout means of said lower plate extending from said strand positioning apertures to the leg extremities of said H-shaped aperture for accommodating the looped strand thus engaged with the lugs of said upper plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 8, wherein adjustable means is provided centrally of said plate for clamping engaged portions of said looped strands firmly against said inwardly projecting lugs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 8, wherein spring tensioned projecting means on said tread portion outwardly of the hub thereof in alignment with at least one of the end cutouts in said upper plate provide a controlled initial resistance to rotary movement of said tread portion with respect to said mounting plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 2, wherein initial resistance to rotation of said tread portion with respect to said mounting plate is provided by at least one spring loaded projecting member on said tread portion outwardly of said hub, and co-acting detent means on said ski receiving said projecting means when said tread is properly aligned with said ski.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 2, wherein said guide means comprise pairs of closely spaced grooved rollers mounted on parallel axes extending transversely of said tread portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 2, wherein said tread portion is inclined to provide substantially greater height at the rear end than at the forward end thereof imparting desirable forward lean to a user of the device, and said higher rear portion housing said tensioning means at a position rearwardly spaced from said hub.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 13, wherein said tensioning means comprises separate spring tensioned spools, with each spool coacting with the tensioned strands at one side of said assemblage.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 13, wherein said tensioning means comprises a single spring tensioned spool having axially spaced grooves for separately receiving tensioned strands from opposed sides of said tread portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
116 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 13, wherein the upper boot engaging portion of said tread is of unitary rigid construction, and the ski engaging portion of said tread is of rigid construction to a point rearwardly of said mounting plate and continues as a second rigid member transversely hinged thereto, said second rigid member eXtending to a position of vertical alignment with the rear end of the boot engaging surface of the tread, and compression spring members being disposed at the rear corners of said tread between the boot engaging surface and said second ski engaging portion providing accommodation of the assemblage to longitudinal flexing of a ski as when negotiating uneven terrain.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 16, wherein the ski engaging surfaces of said first and second rigid members comprise low friction plastic material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 13, wherein said tread portion includes side walls extending substantially to the level of an associated ski enveloping and protecting the strand and tensioning means within said tread portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of said upwardly projecting means and coacting means centrally of said tread portion is fashioned from low friction plastic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 1, wherein said upwardly projecting means and coacting means centrally of said tread portion, as well as surfaces of said tread portion which directly engage an associated ski, are fashioned from low friction plastic material.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 1, wherein said upwardly projecting means on said mounting plate is of generally frustoconical contour.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
103 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 1, wherein said upwardly projecting means on said mounting plate is of generally frustoconical contour and comprises a composite structure of an inner cylindrical part having a radially protruding flange at its upper end, a frustoconical sleeve vertically slidable on said cylindrical part to an uppermost position in engagement with said flange, and resilient means urging said sleeve in the direction of said flange, whereby said frustoconical sleeve remains in aligning engagement with said coacting means centrally of said tread portion during limited upward movement of said tread portion with respect to said mounting plate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ski safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of said tread has a grid pattern of depressions fashioned from or coated with friction reducing plastic, thereby facilitating easy removal of packed snow from said tread.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
153 words
A mechanism for limmiting and correcting pivotal excursions from a position of pre-aligned association between pivotally movable members, said mechanism comprising spring tensioned strands carried by one of aid parts through guide means diametrically opposed to each other and radially spaced from the axis of rotation between said parts, and said strand means dividing at said guide means and passing to anchor points on said second part equally spaced from and at opposite sides of the diameter defined by said guide means, the tension in all strands being equal when said parts are in said position of pre-aligned association, and the tension in one diametrically opposed pair of strands being relaxed, while the tension in the other diametrically opposed pair of strands is substantially doubled as one of said parts initiates a pivotal excursion from said position of pre-aligned association, thereby tending to limit said excursion and reestablish said position of pre-aligned association.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
153 words
A mechanism for limmiting and correcting pivotal excursions from a position of pre-aligned association between pivotally movable members, said mechanism comprising spring tensioned strands carried by one of aid parts through guide means diametrically opposed to each other and radially spaced from the axis of rotation between said parts, and said strand means dividing at said guide means and passing to anchor points on said second part equally spaced from and at opposite sides of the diameter defined by said guide means, the tension in all strands being equal when said parts are in said position of pre-aligned association, and the tension in one diametrically opposed pair of strands being relaxed, while the tension in the other diametrically opposed pair of strands is substantially doubled as one of said parts initiates a pivotal excursion from said position of pre-aligned association, thereby tending to limit said excursion and reestablish said position of pre-aligned association.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 24 wherein the axis of rotation between said parts is defined by a circular projection on one part interfitting with a circular recess on the other part.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 25 wherein at least one of said interfitting projection and recess is of tapered contour permitting disengagement by tilting or lifting of one of said parts with respect to said axis of rotation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
A mechanism as defined in claim 26 wherein said guide means on said one part are spaced axially with respect to the anchor points on said second part whereby said tensioned strand means restrains the relative tilting or lifting movement of said parts.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-17 | 1978-09-16 | 1979-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-17 | 1982-09-16 | 1983-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-17 | 1986-09-16 | 1987-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |